She was a fool to let them near her..

Celeana stood at the same place she stood years ago. She avoided coming here at all costs. But today she couldn't quite resist coming here. How come she bumped in to the same thing she's been avoiding all these years. She clenched her fists, her knuckles turned white from the pressure. Stupid. She was a brainless stupid to do such thing. She should've know better. But if she was given other chance would she change the things that happend? she wasn't sure. The things she did, the memories she made with that person are still fresh in her mind. She didn't know if meeting that person is a curse or a blessing. She touched the chain around her neck. It's good to have it back. Song lin and lin shiyu would never understand what its worth to her. But either way she was sincerely glad that they returned her necklace. It was the closest connection she had to that person. She didn't want to lose it. Her ringing phone interrupted her thougts. She looked at the screen.

ROSE

Celeana let out a mocking laugh when she saw the name. It was easy to lie to rose beacuse rose trusted her and also hard for the same reason. Visiting my mother grave? she let out a humor less chuckle. As if she had one mother she thought silently.

Should she quit before its too late? But what would the others think of her. What would rose think of her. She would be heartbroken.

Who cares? a cruel voice whispered inside her. A voice she long burried in the darkest parts of her heart. Its not like you care about what others think of you! the voice chided her. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. She was a fool. A stupid idiotic fool for having let rose and the others get close to her. She knew better than anyone that there's always a price we should pay for everything we have. She got attached to the gang. To their laughs, to their bickering, to their friendship. She should've known better than to let herself have that comfort again when she already lost it once. What if she loose them too. Could she bare with it? What if they got to know about her true identity? Would they even look at her? will they atleast take her as a human? She let out a frustrated sigh.

She couldn't leave them without saying anything neither did she have it in her to go on this mission. Too many things could go wrong for her. But there it was, that little hope she pretended she didn't have poking her from inside. She'll get to see that person. she thought dazedly. Maybe she can do it. She's Celeana. she could do anything obviously hiding her identity is not that hard, she tried to convince herself. Maybe going on this mission is another ten kinds of stupidity but she knew she's going. That was when the phone rang again. She switched it off and walked towards her car swiftly. She looked one last time at the spot she just stood, at the river that spot overlooked. Everything in this place is a beautiful dream to her but also the worst nightmare. She sighed and closed the car door.

By the time she reached song lin's house, her expression returned to that usual cold and aloof look. A mask of emotion she wore everyday that it eventually became a part of her. Lin shiyu opened the door to her and as soon as she stepped inside she could smell the beautiful aroma of food. Her mouth watered. With a start she realized she didn't eat anything from morning. She cursed inwardly when she saw the only empty chair is beside song lin. Nevertheless she went and sat on it. Shiyu passed her a bowl of noodles as soon as she sat. Celeana just spared her nod and started eating.

"Where did you go?" cassian asked as he drank the soup. "You smell like river" he said again. Song lin felt celeana stiffen beside her but just for a second. Song lin wondered if she imagined it.

"I had some work there" was all she said. But she could feel Rose's eyes on her. Rose tried to catch her eye but celeana didn't meet her gaze. Afraid that rose would somehow detect a hint of sorrow there.

They all exchanged their numbers after the lunch.

"Send me your details so that I could ready the passports." sam said. They all are standing outside the building ready to head back. Just to make him a little uncomfortable song lin said

"Why should I bother with that when you already have it?" he tried smiling but failed.

"I see you hold grudges" he said awkwardly. Song lin raised a well groomed brow at him.

"Me? grudges?I never do such a thing" she said and sam pursued his lips. zayne almost felt sorry for sam. He could see that song lin's clearly enjoying this. Sam didn't have it in him to reply her with sarcasm. Sam is the kind of person who'll search for a little good even in the worst villians on this earth.this was new to zayne. This wicked side of song lin which he only had a few glimpses at.

"I will send them to you Mr ling" shiyu said politely. cassian giggled.

"Now,now cristina don't be so formal" he turned to sam and chuckled "Its as if you are calling a 50 year old man instead of a man at his prime" Rose chimed in immediately

"Yeah. I'm also done with this mister and miss lets not be so formal" shiyu smiled and nodded.

"If you're done with your chatter let's move now" zayne grumbled. He stood a few feet away from them though song lin felt his eyes on her all the time.

"Until next time helen of troy" cass winked at song lin and walked away with sam. Rose gave them her brightest smile while the demoness just nodded a little and off they went. Azriel said something to lin shiyu which she couldn't hear but she could guess what he was saying when she saw shiyu rolling her eyes. Always a shameless flirt she thought then she sensed zayne coming closer to her. "I'm 90 percent sure the commander is going to meet us somewhere in our old spots. one of us will inform you about its whereabouts after we get the order from the commander" he said as he stood infront of her. She gave a little nod and looked away before the image from the kitchen can crop up in her mind. She had a hard time looking at him. He tilted his head a little and thought. She wasn't looking at him since they had lunch. What's wrong with her? Why isn't she glowering at him? Is she sick? and then he remembered the kitchen. Her hair soft as silk under his fingers, he could still remember the way she smelled. No way. Don't tell me the mighty song lin is flustered to look at him he thought. He supressed his growing smile and said

"We are off then" song lin just bowed amd continued to look down. Now he smiled.

"Have a safe journey back major Ji" shiyu said. He nodded slightly and gave song lin one last look before going back to the car.

Song lin looked up and saw him walking towards his gang. They were laughing at something azriel said and zayne also laughed along with them. Even the demoness is smiling.

They stood there silently until the car was out of their sight. Then she heard shiyu ask

"Do you think we can fit in with them?"